Rod with tethered ball and removable apertured yoke



s. L. KRAMER v 3,494,618

ROD WITH TETHERED BALL AND REMOVABLE APERTURED YOKE Feb. 10, 1970 Filed July 29, 1966 MNTOR SQ'MZZGZ L lfnz'llzel" mm ATTOBM'XS Uni St ws. Patnto Filed July 29, 1966, Ser. No. 568,950

Int. Cl. A63]; 69/40 US. Cl. 273-98 .5

2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game apparatus is provided which comprises a rod having a spherical element, such as a ball, suspended from it at a central location and having a means which affords at least one circular aperture for receiving the spherical element. The aperture may be smaller or larger than the spherical element and the means that affords the aperture may be removable from the rod and mounted on it as desired.

This invention relates. to an improved exercise and amusement device for use by persons of all ages.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved device for amusement manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the character described which affords amusement to the operators while simultaneously improving muscle tone.

Still another object of this invention is to simultaneously exercise and amuse people while improving their muscle tone and coordination.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a combination exercise and amusement device is constructed to have an elongated rod and a ball attached to the center portion of the rod by a flexible cordor string. An elongated frame, containing inner and outer pairs of oppositely disposed circular yokes, is secured transversely with respect to the rod. Preferentially, the first pair of yokes each define apertures having a diameter less than that of the ball, whereas the second pair of yokes each define apertures having a diameter greater than that of the ball. However, the apertures may be all greater or all smaller than the ball diameter and different combinations of the smaller and greater apertures may be used. By appropriate movement of either or both ends of the rod by a person or persons, respectively, a swinging movement is imparted to the ball. The object is to cause the ball, by swinging or other manipulation, to lodge in either of the smaller pair of apertures or to pass through either of the larger pair.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a combination exercise and amusement device constructed in accordance with one form of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of frame employed in the construction of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the combination exercise and amusement device of this invention; and

which is simple and economical to 3,494,618 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 FIGURE 6 is an end view of a portion of the combination exercise and amusement device illustrated in FIGS. 1

and 5. v v

In FIGURE 1 there is provided an elongated member 10 which maybe in the form of a staff or rod formed of I any suitable rigid material such as plastic or, wood. End

caps 12 are placed over either end of the rod 10 or they maybe an integral part of the rod, for example, by molding the element. These end caps may be formed of suitable plastic or rubber and provide an enlarged, rounded end surface 14 so as to facilitate their placement against the body of a person during operation as well as will be described hereinafter.

A spherical member such as a ball 16 formed of any suitable plastic or rubber material is attached to the central portion of the rod 10 as by hook 18 seen most clearly in FIG. 5. A flexible string or cord 20 of cotton or plastic is secured or tied to the hook 18 so as to permit a swinging motion of the ball as denoted by the dashed line 22 in FIG. 1, in the direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod 10.

A frame member 24, as seen most clearly in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is adapted to be secured transversely to the rod 10 as by a U-shaped spring clamp 26 (FIGS. 2 to 4). The spring clamp 26 may be secured to the frame member as by bolt and nut 28. The U-shaped clamp 26 may have the ends of the legs of the U folded so as to facilitate its snapping over the rod 10.

Alternatively, the frame 24 may be integral with or secured directly to the rod 10 by a wood screw (not shown). However, the spring clamp is preferred to permit the convenient usage of the exercise and amusement device of this invention either with or without the frame member.

The frame member 24 is elongated and is constructed of any suitable plastic or stamped from metal sheet stock to comprise an inner pair of oppositely disposed yokes 30 which define an inner pair of circular apertures 32 and an outer pair of oppositely disposed circular yokes 34 which define an outer pair of apertures 36 in the frame member. In a preferred arrangement the inner apertures 32 have each a diameter which exceeds that of the ball 16 whereas the outer apertures 36 each have a diameter less than that of the ball 16. In this manner, the inner apertures permit the passage of the ball 16 through the frame member 24 whereas the outer pair of the apertures 36 is adapted to receive and hold the ball 16. The smaller recesses may be flat surfaced or concave or convex, but concave surfaces are preferred for best retention of the ball.

In use the device serves both as an amusement device and as an exercise device while at the same time improving muscle coordination and tone. Typically two persons may either grasp the respective end caps 12 of the rod 10 and by coordinating their movements with each other cause the ball 16 to swing in a generally circular motion so as to rest in either of the outer apertures 36 or to pass through either of the inner apertures 36.

The two operators or persons using the device may place the end caps 13 against a portion of their bodies, typically the abdominal region, and by exerting pressure in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1), move their respective bodies so as to cause the ball 16 to be twirled, swung or otherwise manipulated to engage one of the apertures 32 or 36. This operation requires the coordination of two people to move their bodies in unison and in so doing, provides amusement and exercise.

In an alternate embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the frame 24 may be removed and a spherical recess 42 formed in the outer peripheral surface of the rod 10 diametrically opposite the hook 18, which attaches the string 20 to the rod 10. In this instance the object of the gameis to cause the ball 16to swing about the rod 10 and to engage'the"sphericalrecess"intheTod*10;Also;re="

cess 42 may be used as a retention means for gripping means 26 preventing it from sliding longitudinally along therod10.

In other usages of the invention a single operator may,

-by pressing the one end of the rod 10 against a surface or support such as a wall, manipulate only the free end so as to provide many of the same advantages of the invention as described.

There has thus been described an improved exercise device for use by persons to develop muscle coordination while affording amusement to the operators. 1

While the invention has been disclosed herein in con 1 nection with certain embodiments and certain structural 15 and procedural details, it is clear that changes, modifica tions or equivalents can be used by those skilled in the art; accordingly, such changes within the principles-of the invention are intended to be included within the scope; f a 20 frame member positioned on said rod, said framemem ber being elongated and having first and second pairs of oppositely disposed yokes on either end thereof, each "yoke defining circular apertures; the e being present at least one aperture having a diameter less than thediameter of the spherical member and at least one ape. ture having a diameter greater than the diameter of said spherical, member; and means for connecting the other end of said cord to said rod to afiord swinging movement of said spherical'element about said rod, said swinging movement being the result of forces imparted to an end of said rod. V v

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes a U-shaped spring clamp aflixed to said aperture con taining means and adapted to engage said rod.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,155 6/1890 Taylor 273+97 857,198 6/ 1907 Perez 273-97- 964,473 7/1910 Kane et al. 27397 1,944,628 1/1934 Barker 273-97' 1,947,859 2/1934 Lathers 273-97 2,033,408 3/1936 Watterson 2739T 3,104,877 9/1963 Gross. l 3,313,542 4/1967 Johnston.

ANTON o. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner M. A. PAGE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

